Glenbard West grad shot on college campus returns to class

Even though he was shot in the stomach a week ago Monday, Glenbard West High School graduate Timothy Schumacher says he's recovering quickly.

"I'm feeling great and have been off pain medication since Friday," he said. "My recovery is the fortunate part about this."

The 19-year-old University of Minnesota sophomore returned to classes this week after he was shot on the school's Minneapolis campus. Police said a pair of men were on a crime spree the night of Jan. 25 when they shot Schumacher as he returned home from a late-night workout at the University Recreation Center.

While standing on the sidewalk in front of his dorm, Centennial Hall, Schumacher said he heard a man's voice behind him say "Boo." Being in no mood for joking, he said, Schumacher replied with a harsh phrase to shoo the stranger away.

Turning toward the voice, he was shot in the abdomen as two me ran by.

"They didn't try to take my wallet or anything," Schumacher said. "I guess I just said (the wrong thing) to the wrong person."

He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors opened his stomach to determine whether there was any organ damage, Schumacher said. Finding the bullet too close to his spine, doctors decided to leave the bullet in his body.

Hopefully, scar tissue will envelop the bullet where it lies, where it can safely remain, he said.

Despite that trauma, the economics major said he is catching up on class work and can't wait to start workouts again for his campus gymnastics club.

"I'm rally not traumatized by it all," he said. "And I don't want to sound like my priorities are off, but I'm bothered that I can't workout. If I'm angry normally, I can lift it off. But now this has happened and I don't have that outlet."

Schumacher's parents, who came from Glen Ellyn while he was in the hospital, have returned home. He jokes that his parents are more worried than he is about his health.

Meanwhile, university police continue to search for suspects who hit four targets, including Schumacher, in a crime spree on the East Bank campus. In a matter of 20 minutes Jan. 25, three female students were robbed in two separate incidents, police said.

One of the robberies was at gunpoint, officials have said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.